Disconnecting switch for transmission lines



Nov. 6, 1928.

A. o. AUSTIN DISCONNECTING SWITCH FOR TRANSMISSION LINES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 25 cfi M WW 1 KQM ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1928.

A. O. AUSTIN DISCONNECTING SWITCH FOR TRANSMISSION LINES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 6, 1928; 1,690,357

A. o. AUSTIN DISCONNECTING SWITCH FOR TRANSMISSION LINES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvroze Q.

BY a M mwd K M A TTORNEYIS sihle.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AIRTHUR O. AUSTIN, OF BARBEBTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DISCONNEGTING SWITCH- IEOR TRANSMISSION LINES.

Application filed August 11, 1924. Serial No. 731,508.

particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a single pole of a disconnecting switch viewed from the direction of the line.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same pole.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing a modified form of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs.

1 and 2 respectively showing still another form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the contact members used in the switch shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the usual forms of high voltage disconnecting switches, it'is generally neces sary' to provide at least three insulators or insulator systems per phase. As the insulator is an appreciable part of the cost, it is advisable to reduce the quantity where pos- In the improved type of switch construction this is made possible and at the same time, other advantages are obtained.

The switch consists essentially of two oscillating or tilting insulator systems equipped with current carrying contacts, the axes of the insulators being normal to the incoming line. Since the axis of the insulator is normal to the incoming line, the tension in the conductor will have but little eifect on the operation of the switch. This eliminates the necessity of dead end insulators or auxiliary insulators for taking up the tension in the line.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the switch is shown in closed position. The incoming line 10 is threaded through or attached to a rigid member 11, the other end being attached to the current carrying clip 12. The conductor 10 may be in direct line with the hinge point 13 of the oscillating insulator 14. 7

It will be seen that where this is the case, the movement in the insulator 14 will cause only a torsional movement in the conductor 10. This is only necessarily advisable where clearances may be an important factor or where the swing in the incoming span may be a disadvantage. Where this is not necessaryor the insulator will readily withstand the bending moment, the conductor 15 may be attached directly to the base of the insulator as in the case of the complementary insulator 16. In thiscase, the point of attachment of the conductor will move so that the conductor will be displaced along the arc of a circle, being at 17 in the closed position and at 18 in the open position. In this case, the full bending moment comes on the head of the insulator, whereas by raising the effective point of attachment as in the case of the conductor 10, the dielectric in the insulator may be subjected to little or no bending moment, the stress being practically one of shear due to tension in the conductor. The oscillating insulator elements 14 and 16 are attached to arms 20 and 21 which are attached to connecting rods 22 and 23. These connecting rods are attached to crank pins 24 and 25 which rotate about the axis of the shaft 26. The

rotation of this shaft'will move the crank arms and move the oscillating insulators, causing the switch to open and close as desired. By giving the crank pins a rotation of 180 degrees the connecting rods will be on dead center in either open or'closed position so that little or no force will be required to maintain the switch in either extreme.

The switch as shown is located below the arm or tower member but it is evident that by reversing the insulators that the switch may be mounted above. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 shows the end elevation of the switch looking at the switch from the direction of the incoming line and Fig. 4 shows the side elevation. In Figs. 1 and 2 the insulator systems are in the same plane, whereas in Figs. 3 and 4 they have been separated in the direction of the line so as to economize space and provide greater separation between the insulators on opposite phases in open position.

While it is usually advisable to place the insulators in an inclined position in both the open and closed positions to gain maximum clearances, they may be in vert cal position for the closed position provldmg the longitudinal spacing is sufiicient or the insulators may be even closed in the reverse direction if the longitudinal distance is sufficient.

The operation in Figs. 3 and 415 the same as in Figs. 1 and 2. he incoming l1nes 27 are attached to arms 28. These anus being ri id and projecting downward in the plane 0 the axis of the insulator, lower the bending moment of the lower insulator. By properly proportioning this arm, the maximum bending moment may be obtained by a given 1nsulator and the oscillation of the conductor minimized during opening and closing of the switch. In order to prevent discharge at the lower points of the arm 28, an insulated control 29 is provided so as to raise the flashover voltage of this point. The switch 18 equipped with current carrying members 30 which have considerable spring or resiliency so as to insure contact. In order to prevent burning of the current carrying members 30 during opening or closing of the switch, arcing horns 31 are provided which make and break the circuit in closing or opening the switch. The oscillating insulators are preferably mounted on a shaft 32 which is free to rotate in bearings 33 and 34 which are well separated. This minimizes the pressure on the bearings due to the bending moment caused by tension in the conductor 27.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the insulator 40 is rigidly mounted on a support 41 and has one end of the transmission line secured to the topof the insulator at 42. The stationary contact member 43 is supported on the insulator 40 in electrical connection with the line 42. The opposite end of the line is connected at 44 with a bent arm 45 rigidly connected at 46 to the top of the insulator 47. The insulator 47 is mounted on a bracket 48 which is fixed to a shaft 49 journalled in a bracket 50 mounted on the support 41. An arm 51 is fixed to the shaft 49 and pivotally connected with a link by means of which shaft 49 may be rotated to swing the insulator 47 toward and away from the insuator 40. The contact member 53 is mounted on the insulator 47 in electrical connection with the line 44. The contact members 43 and 53 as shown in Fig. 5 may be in the form of fiat springs, the member 53 being curved to insure a good bearing connection between the contact members. Curved horns 54 and 55 are carried by the insulators 40 and 47 respectively in position to engage one another prior to .the contact 43 and 53 and to break connections subsequently to these members.

In Fig. 7 a slightly modified form of contact members is shown. The member 43 is similar to that in Fig. 5 but the member 53 is provided with a brush contact comprising a plurality of spring wires or fingers 56 which bear on member 43 to insure good connection.

I claim 2-- 1. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising an iii-- sulator one end of said line being carried by said insulator, a contact member carried by said insulator and means for moving said insulator bodily in a direction transverse to the direction of said line for opening and closing said switch.

2. The combination with a transmission line of a switch for said line, said switch comprising an insulator, a pivotal support for said insulator having its axis extending in the direction of said line and transversely to the axis of said insulator and means for swinging said insulator about its pivotal support to open and close said switch.

3. The combination with a transmission line of a switch for said line, said switch comprising a pin type insulator having its axis transverse to said line, a journal support for said insulator, a contact member mounted on said insulator at a point thereof spaced in the direction of the axis of said insulator, and disposed from the axis of said journal support and means for swinging said insulator about its journal support in a direction transverse to the direction of said line and also transverse to the axis of said insulator for opening and closing said switch.

4. The combination with a transmission line having a horizontally extending span for connecting separated supporting structures of a switch for said line, said switch comprising a pair of insulators spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the direction of the length of said span, one end of said span being carried by one of said insulators, contact members carried by said insulators and means for moving one of said insulators toward and away from the other for closing and opening said switch.

5. switch comprising a pair of pin type insulators, a journal support for one of said insulators, contact members carried by said insulators, a transmission line having adjacent ends connected to said insulators and extending therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to said ournal support and means for swinging said insulator about its journal support to open and close said switch.

6. The combination with a transmission line of a switch comprising an insulator having a journal support extending substantially parallel to said line, said line being secured to said insulator at a point spaced radially from said journal support so that the tension of said line is sustained by said insulator and means for moving said insulator upon its journal support to open and'close said switch.

7. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising a pin type insulator, a journal support for said insulator having its axis extending trans- Yversely to the axis of said insulator and substantiall parallel to the direction of said line, said ine being connected with said insulator so that said insulator sustains the tension of said line and means for moving said insulator about its journal support to open and close said switch.

8. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising two pin type insulators spaced from one another in a direction transverse to they direction of said line, contact members mounted on said insulators respectively and relatively movable into and out of engagement with each other, a journal support for one of said insulators, one end of said line being connected to said insulator so that the tension therein is transmitted to said journal support and means for swinging said insulator about its journal support to open and close said switch.

9. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising two insulators spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the direction of said line, contact members carried by said insulators and arranged in a common plane substantially normal to the direction of said line and means for moving one of said insulators bodily transversely to the direction of said line for bringing the said contact members into and out of engagement with each other.

10. The combination with a transmission line of a pair of insulators arranged in spaced relation in a direction transverse to said line, said line having adjacent ends thereof secured to said insulators respectively so that said insulators receive the tension in said line, a journal support for one of said insulators extending substantially parallel to said line and extending transversely to the axis of said insulator, contact members carried by said insulators, the adjacent ends of said line being supported respectively by said insulators and means for rotating one of said insulators about its journal support to open and close said switch.

11. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor, said switch comprising an insulator having a contact member mounted thereon and means for moving said insulator to open and close said switch, one end of said line being connected with said insulator and movable therewith in a direction transverse to the length of said line.

12. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising an insulator, a journal support, for said insulator and a bracket mounted on said insulator and to which said line is secured, said bracket being attached to said insulator at a point thereon spaced radially from said journal support and offset from its point of support on said insulator toward the journal support for said insulator.

13. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprisin a pin type insulator, a journal support or said insulator, means for swinging said insulator about its support ina direction transverse to the direction of said line and a bracket confleeting said insulator with one end of said line, said bracket being offset from its point of connection with said insulator toward said journal support.

14. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising a pair of insulators having contact members mounted thereon and means for simultaneously moving said insulators transversely to the direction of said line for opening and closin said switch.

15. he combination with a transmission line having a horizontally extending span for connecting separated supporting structures, of a switch therefor comprising a pair of pin type insulators one end of said span being carried by one of said insulators, journal supports for said insulators extending parallel to the direction of said span, means for connecting adjacent ends of said line to said insulators and means for swinging said insulators about their axes to open and close said switch.

16. The combination with a transmission line having'a horizontally extending span for connecting separated supporting structures, of a switch therefor comprising a pair of pin type insulators one end of said span being carried by one of said insulators, journal supports forv said insulators extending substantially parallel with the direction of said span, adjacent ends of said line Iiibeing connected with said insulators and means for simultaneously swinging said in sulators about their journal supports to open and close said switch, said means comprising a crank member and links connecting said crank member with said insulator.

17. The combination with a transmission line having a horizontally extending span for connecting separated supporting structures, of a switch therefor comprising an elongated insulator, a journal support for said insulator extending substantially parallel with the direction of said span, a contact member carried by said insulator, one end of said span being carried by said insulator and electrically connected with said contact member and means for swinging said insulator upon its journal suplhi port for opening and closin said switch said means comprising a era member and a link connecting said crank member with said insulator.

18. A disconnecting switch for transmission lines comprising a pin ty e insulator, a journal support for said insu ator extending-transversely to the direction of the axis of said insulator, means for swinging said insulator upon its journal support comprising a crank and a link connecting said crank with said insulator, said link having an offset portion therein to provide clearance for the axis of said crank.

19. A disconnecting switch for a transmission line comprising a pair of pin type insulators, journal supports for said insulators extending transversel to the axes thereof, means for holding said journal sup orts in spaced parallel relation to one anot ier and means for swinging said insulators about said journal supports to open and close said switch, said swinging means comprising an operating shaft, a pair of crank arms connected with said shaft and links connecting said crank arms respectively with said insulators, said links having offset portions therein to provide clearance for said shaft.

20. The combination with a transmission line of a disconnecting switch therefor, said switch comprising a pair of insulators, pins for supporting said insulators, journal supports for .said pins extending transversely thereto and brackets mounted on said insulators and having adjacent ends of the said line connected respectively thereto, said brackets being oiiset toward the axes of said insulators from their point of connection with said insulators to distribute the bending moment exerted by said line between said journal supports and said insulators.

Q1. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor, said switch comprising an elongated insulator, a journal support for said insulator having its axis substantially parallel to the direction of said line and an offset bracket for connecting said line to said insulator and for bringing the point of connection with said line in offset position from the end of said insulator toward said journaltsupport.

22. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising an insulator, a contact member carried by said insulator and means for connecting one end of said'line with said insulator so that said contact member and line are moved in a direction transverse to the direction of said line when said insulator moves to open and close said switch.

23. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor, said switch co1nprising a pin type insulator, a journal support for said insulator having its axis extending transversely to the axis of said insulator and means for connecting one end of said line to said insulator said connecting means extending away from said insulator and being offset to support said line substantially in alignment with the axis of said journal support.

24. The combination with a transmission line of a switch therefor comprising a pair of insulators, means for moving said insulators transversely to the direction of said line for opening and closing said switch, means for connecting one end of said line to one of said insulators in a substantially stationary position and means for connecting the other end of said line to the other of said insulators in position to move therewith transversely to the direction of said line.

25. The combination with a transmission line of :1V disconnecting switch therefor, said switch comprising a support, a pair of pin type insulators suspended from said support, contact members carried on the lower ends of said insulators and means for swinging said insulators transversely to the direction of said line for opening and closing said switch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 7th day of August, A. D. 1924.

ARTHUR O. AUSTIN. 

